Grasshoppers fend off Swans to remain unbeaten

REIGNING premier Navarre fended off a challenge from Natte Bealiba to retain its unblemished Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League record on Saturday.

Only once before Saturday had an opposition finished within six goals of Navarre this year, but the Swans were right in the contest at three quarter-time when they trailed by six points in the low-scoring contest.

However, the Swans were unable to pull off the upset as the Grasshoppers responded with a 4.2 to 1.2 final term to win 9.10 (64) to 6.4 (40).

Such was the defensive effort of the Swans, Navarre’s score of 64 was less than half the 136 points it had been averaging going into the game.

No Navarre details were supplied, while better players for the Swans included Brent Mortlock, Joshua Tong, Jamie Evans and Chris Jardine. Thomas Douglas kicked three of their six goals.

• Campbells Creek ended its four-game losing streak and took another step towards its first finals berth since 1999 with a 23-point win over Trentham.

Striving to win its first game since round three, Trentham led by two points at three quarter-time.

But the Creekers added 4.3 while holding the Saints to 0.2 in the last term to win 14.12 (96) to 11.7 (73) and are now two games inside the top eight with three rounds left.

Joel Smith was a welcome return for the Creekers, kicking three goals in his first game for more than two months, while coach Sean Smith also added three, with the pair their side’s top players.

In what was Trentham’s 10th loss in a row, Callan Wellings, Mark Strickland and Jonathon Nadin were the Saints’ best. Luke Whitehouse kicked four goals.

• Royal Park beat Avoca for the first time since 2007.

Bushy slammed on seven goals to one in the second term to set up the 14.14 (98) to 7.16 (58) victory.

Brendan Birch (four goals), Jacob Cahill (three goals) and Jay Anderson led the way for Royal Park, which put the stamp on its first finals appearance since 2006.

Murray Bond kicked three goals to be the best for Avoca. Luke Bertram and coach Adrian Pilgrim also battled hard for the Bulldogs.

• Dunolly kicked its highest score of the season, but it wasn’t enough to beat Talbot.

The Hawks - chasing their first finals berth since 2008 - moved two games clear inside the top eight with the 16.8 (104) to 13.12 (90) win.

Ross Wise (three goals), the consistent Trent Barras and Jorde Bux (two goals) were the standouts for the Hawks as they won two in a row for the first time this season.